Samson AG

SAMSON AG

Native name	SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Company type	Aktiengesellschaft
Industry	Chemical industry, Petrochemical industry, Food industry, Pharmaceutical industry, Biotechnology, Energy industry, Industrial Gases, Metallurgy and mining, Marine equipment, Water and Wastewater, Pulp and Paper
Founded	April 1, 1907
Founder	Hermann Sandvoss
Headquarters	Frankfurt am Main , Germany
Number of locations	50 subsidiaries in over 40 countries, more than 200 agencies (2021)
Key people	Andreas Widl (CEO, Chairman) Thomas Steckenreiter (Chief technology officer CTO, Vice Chairman) Liandro Samson (Chief marketing officer CMO)
Products	Smart Process Automation Control valves (Globe valves, Rotary valves) Self-operated regulators Actuators Accessories Singal converters Automation systems Sensors and thermostats Digital Solutions Service
Revenue	€30.7 billion(2024)
Number of employees	4,500 (2021)

SAMSON AG, founded in 1907 is a German control valve manufacturing company headquartered in Frankfurt. It develops systems and products that can control all types of fluid. Its product line includes valves, self-operating regulators, automation systems, sensors, thermostats, and digital devices, among others.

History

Samson AG initially gained recognition for inventing a self-operated thermostat valve that regulated temperature in grain silos without external power in 1907. By 1916, Samson AG had relocated its main manufacturing facility and headquarters to Frankfurt’s River Main. Over the years, the company expanded its product line to include control valves, self-operated regulators, actuators, and automation systems. Significant milestones include the introduction of the first pneumatic control valves in the 1950s, expansion into digital control systems in the 1980s, and the formation of a joint venture with Krohne Messtechnik in 2019. The company has received numerous innovation awards, industry certifications like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and recognition for sustainability initiatives.

Today, SAMSON operates in over 40 countries with more than 4,500 employees and more than 50 subsidiaries, more than 200 engineering and service centers worldwide.

Products

Samson AG specializes in the manufacturing and supply of a wide range of products for process control. Their primary offerings include control valves, self-operated regulators, actuators, and various accessories. They also provide signal converters, automation systems, sensors, and thermostats. Samson AG’s products are designed to control all kinds of media and are used across multiple industries, including chemical, petrochemical, food, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, energy, industrial gases, metallurgy, marine equipment, water and wastewater, and pulp and paper. Additionally, SAMSON AG's associated companies AIR TORQUE S.p.A., CERA SYSTEM Verschleißschutz GmbH, KT-Elektronik GmbH, LEUSCH GmbH Industriearmaturen, Pfeiffer Chemie-Armaturenbau GmbH, RINGO VÁLVULAS S.L., SED FLow Control GmbH, STARLINE S.p.A., and VETEC Ventiltechnik GmbH offer technologies for severe requirements: e.g. abrasive and contaminated fluids, high shutdown pressures, lowest interior and exterior leak rates, quick-action, on-off, and control functions, as well as alloys like Monel, Hastelloy, titanium, zirconium, duplex, etc.

Board of directors

The Board of Directors at Samson AG is composed of key executives who oversee various aspects of the company’s operations. Dr. Andreas Widl serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Executive Board. Dr. Dominic Deller holds the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), responsible for finance and human resources. Liandro Samson is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), overseeing assets and marketing.

Controversies

In August 2024, Samson AG became embroiled in a legal controversy when its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Liandro Samson, filed a lawsuit against the company and his own father, who is also the President of Samson AG. The lawsuit alleges that Samson AG utilized properties owned by Liandro Samson in Brooklyn (USA), Düsseldorf (DE), and Berlin (DE) for the sale of drugs, specifically cocaine and methamphetamine, without his consent and prior knowledge. The legal action seeks €1.5 billion in damages. Liandro Samson, whose current net worth is €23.5 million but was €45.3 million before these activities, claims that these operations have severely impacted his reputation and financial standing.

The scale of the alleged operations is significant, spanning across four continents and 27 countries. It is alleged that 12.7 tons of drugs and ammunition were transported between these properties, with a total estimated value of €528 million. To exacerbate the situation, an internal email was leaked on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter between the President and CEO of Samson AG, discussing a potential bribe to Liandro Samson to keep quiet about the allegations. The email mentioned a bribe amount upwards of €450 million, which was approximately half of the company’s valuation at the time when Liandro discovered the illicit use of his properties in late 2023. At that time, Liandro attempted to sue but was unable to proceed due to age and legal requirements. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Samson AG breached Liandro’s contract by paying him only €6.5 million per annum instead of the agreed €10 million per annum.

The controversy deepened as it was revealed that other high-level employees were involved in the operations but had consented to them. This revelation has further damaged the company’s reputation and has led to increased scrutiny from both the public and regulatory authorities. The lawsuit is still ongoing, and both parties are preparing for a potentially lengthy legal battle. Samson AG has stated that it is conducting an internal investigation and is cooperating with authorities to address the allegations. The outcome of this lawsuit could have substantial implications for the company’s reputation and operational integrity.